Queensland Carnival Double for Millionaire War Eternal (NZ)

Saturday’s A$160,000 Listed Sky Racing Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm completed a Queensland feature double for War Eternal (NZ) (Pierro), and it took the Karaka 2020 graduate past A$1m in career earnings.

The Spear Chief came three weeks after War Eternal’s last-start success in the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m), and it improved his career record to 39 starts for seven wins, eight placings and A$1.03m in stakes. He was offered by Cambridge Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2020, where Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock bought him for $160,000.

War Eternal had to carry the equal topweight of 59.5kg on Saturday against a highly competitive line-up, and for a large part of the home straight, it looked like it might be a bridge too far.

After settling in fourth for most of the race, jockey Rachel King drove War Eternal forward at the home turn to stake his claim on the outside of the leaders. He hit the front with 250 metres to run, but then the strongly favoured Sun God (Fastnet Rock) burst through on his inside in what looked almost certain to be a winning move.

War Eternal rose to meet the challenge, however, clawing his way back level with Sun God in the final 100 metres and edging him out in a head-bobbing finish.

“He’s so tough and genuine,” King said. “He always tries his hardest, and even though we drew a little bit tricky today (gate nine), we ended up in a beautiful spot. He came back underneath me and he's very professional in everything he does. I loved the way he toughed it out.”

Previously second in the Group Three Spring Stakes (1600m), third in the Group Two Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) and fourth in the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m) during his three-year-old season, War Eternal is now back in some of the best form of his career at the age of seven.

He is trained by Bjorn Baker, who was represented at Eagle Farm on Saturday by Jim Clarke.

“He's a beautiful horse and he's been a bit of a stable stalwart for a while now,” Clarke said. “He's got a few years in his legs now, and I think he's ticked over A$1m, so he's an absolute ripper.”